Yesterday, Friday the 22nd of March, was World Water Day. This years day falls within the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation, with this becoming the theme being celebrated. Earth is sometimes referred to as the ‘Blue Planet’, with over 70% of its surface being covered in water. As individuals and communities we use water everyday, in so many ways, as demonstrated in the short video attached above. This use and access to clean water can be a very different experience for many around the ‘Blue Planet’, as highlighted through the fact at the end of the video.

Take the time to reflect on your own connection to water and the decisions that are made each day in relation to the ways water is used. Also consider how increased cooperation within the global village could allow for greater access to the fulfilment of basic human needs for all and the challenges we are and will experience if we don’t protect our precious environment.

This photo below is a strong connection that I have to water living on the coast. It is also a reminder that my daily thoughts, words and actions create a ‘footprint’, what that footprint looks like is up to me.

How many times do you say or hear in everyday life, “I just don’t have enough time for that”. In this 21st Century world, with all its technology, busyness and challenges, this yearning for extra time is experienced by many who are striving for balance in various elements of their lives.

Reflection is such an important part of our journey of potential. We can take advantage of ongoing opportunities to evaluate the effectiveness of our daily thoughts, words and actions, whether these are journeying us towards authentic goals, fostering purpose and meaning, while providing for making a difference through connection to self, others and the world around us.

The short reflection below is one that we use within our programs. It is an opportunity to explore the choices we are making everyday. The attached short video complements this reflection well. Consider your own journey of potential and how your daily thoughts, words and actions are building connection to what’s important for you!

We hope you have a great weekend.

A Pause For Thought

Imagine there is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400.

It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening it deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day.

What would you do?

Draw out all of it, of course!

Each of us has such a bank. Its name is time. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds.

Every night you lose whatever of this you have failed to invest to a good purpose. You can never get back any that you did not use. It is lost forever.

Each day it opens up a new account for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day.

What a week. Four day program for 205 students. It provided for lots of fun, lots of challenges and activities, lots of names to learn, lots of individual and group insights and meaningful connections, and of course lots of staff, program and logistical organisation and planning. The quote above really sums up how weeks like this one are possible, each individuals thoughts, words and actions contribute to creating an experience that will be remembered by these students for a long time.

This TEAM includes the inspiring professionals working with the groups as Explore Discover Act facilitators. Their role is highly valued and vital in providing a safe, inclusive and supportive environment so that the participants can explore the possibilities, discover their potential and act authentically. They bring their skills, expertise and energy to the TEAM, empowering an attitude of I can, a belief in You can and inspiring We can. But this is just one piece of the TEAM puzzle that is involved in providing quality programs.

It is also the ongoing building of connection with the client school, the teachers and school communities who see the value of the time and effort involved in organising experiences like these for their students. We are very grateful to all our clients for assisting us within this process, the smiles on the students faces, their interactions with teachers and Explore Discover Act staff, the excitement, curiosity, courage and connection that becomes evident highlights the importance of varied experiential learning within the journey of potential that each student is on. It is our privilege to support schools in this way.

The participants are always central to this TEAM puzzle. The organisation, planning and preparation with Explore Discover Act and school staff is for the benefit of the students who will participate. Making opportunities engaging and challenging, while providing for appropriate reflection, allows for meaningful connection to thoughts, words and actions beyond the program. This awareness and appreciation of skills, attitudes and behaviours that assist individuals and groups within their journey of potential is such a rewarding element of the TEAM puzzle.

Thanks to the whole TEAM involved in this fantastic past week. We look forward to continuing to foster this theme, TEAM = Together Everyone Achieves More.